New Ulm weekly review., 1887-03-30
THREE SCENES IN LIFE.

THREE SCENES in A LIFE.
Not mach to see-only blood stains
ON the floor of q gambling saloon at
Feudriere, all traces of which the at
tendants were hastily removing; not
much to hear-oniy the footsteps OF
those who We're carrying out the
dead, and the idle comments OF
players and loungers.
Not q case OF suicide" said one OF
the habitues to an English officer
standing near the d0ors-"Oh, mol
He burst blood vessel in his intense
excitement, and died almost instantly.
An Ehglishman? Well, yes, think so
husband Of the pretty girl we saw
yesterday at the Establishment. Very
III she looked; and quite young child
was at her side"
And then arose the cry of "Faites
lelfjeu, messieursW- the death
scene was forgotten and the gamblers
resumed their absorbing play.
X n
AssmalI apartment in quiet street.
and a girl leaning from an open case
ment gazing at the peaceful sky. Her
face was very pale, with deep shadows
under the eyes, telling of many a
weary vigil like that which. she was
then keeping.
Would he retrieve all, as he had as
sured herr Would the terrible losses
ofthe, past weeks be repeated in a few
short hours? So he has said, and so
believed, and in hearing him she be-
lieved also.
And now would the long hours never
pass-would he never come? Shelook-
ed around at the neat but poor room,
at the, sleeping child and at the little
table with the white roll and flask OF
cheap wine-all their scanty means
would allow her to provide-and then,
turning again to the window, she re-
sumad her lonely watch, shivering
slightly as the breeze rufded her soft
brown curls and the night birds cry
Tell ON the stiffness OF the deserted
streets.
Not many months before Harry
Vaughan, with his wife and child, had
arrived at Foudriere. He was an art
ist, and hoped by a winter among
fairer scenes and in milder air to re-
crait his failing health and find fresh
subjects for his pencil.
It was on one of his sketching excur-
aions that he formed the acquaintance
OF q young Frenchman, who tempted
him into a gaming saloon with no 9th
sr thought than that OF passing away
an idle hour. But the consequence of
that one visit had been fatal. Sever
al men had been winning heavily, and
the excitement of play entered like
madness into the brain OF the young
Englishman. and he staked again and
again-small sums, certainly, but still
enough to feed the flame of gambling
within him, for he won every time.
AS the young wife leaned from the
easement she dwelt with feverish re-
sentiment upon the events of the past
day how the young Frenchman who
had first awakenedi in Harry the love of
play had been shocked at the misery
he had so unwittingly caused, and had
pressed on him the loan of 100 francs,
exacting the promise that if he tried
his luck once again and failed he
would at once and forever give up the
gaming table and return to his work.
Flushed with hope, and with strong
determination to keep his word, Har-
ry bade Margaret adieu with more
than usual tenderness, and went out,
as he said, ''to conquer fate"
Some of his spirit entered into the
poor girls heart. and filled it for q
brief moment with hope. Then, in an
agony of fear and love, she called him
back, and implored him with tears
and sobs, whether he lost or won,
never to enter" aa gambling house
again.
Il will promise you, DEAR" he said
softly, putting her gently from him,
and SO went out. to meet his doom.
r. ~ NJ x
He would' never win or lose again,
and nevermore would Margaret keep
her lonely watch, for his dear sake.
Strangers hands had laid him to rest
in the quiet graveyard; aud now with
fearless agony. Margaret knelt alone
beside housekeeping. child.
They had nothing left; and without
food her child must die.
Suddenly a. burning flush mounted
to her brow, and starting to her feet,
she drew the wedding ring from her
wasted finger, kissing it passionately,
hurried from the room, as if fearful
that her. resolution might give way.
A littlslater, with a few francs clasp
ed in her burning hand, she hastened,
not to the poorroom she called home,
but to the gaming saloon where her